Flotation reagent



Patented June 5, 1934. I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE fourth to ard L. Martin, New York, N. Y.,

and Evander F. Russell, Brooklyn, N. Y.

'No Drawing. Application September 19. 1932, Serial N0. 633,927

2 Claims. (01. 209-467) My invention'relates to a reagent that is to be used in oil flotation and has in view the preterential separation. of lead and zinc sulphides. The reagent that I use for this purpose is sodium sul- B phoeyanate and it has the power in alkaline solution to depress the zinc sulphide and make possible a lead concentrate practically tree from zinc sulphide.

The amount of the reagent used'will diner of course with the dlflerent ores but usually runs within a range of about .05 to .50 lb. per ton or ore treated.

The following. test will show the efilciency of the operation on a lead, zinc, copper ore:

Reeovoryperccnt Wt.

Pb. Zn. Cu. Pb. Zn. 011.

Per- Per- Per- Pu- Pcr- Par- Gn. cent cent cent and an! an! 1!!!) 10.4 18.6 1.6 Pbeonoentrau--. no no a1 M 87.0 as 33.4 Zneonoon 300 4.0 sac s 11.1 cm 29.0 m on 21 1 1.3 1.0 31.3 26 I In this test, the ore was ground so that 90% of it would pass through a 200 mesh sieve. So-

.tent for iron sulphides.

dium carbonatewas used to make the pulp alkaline and zanthate was used as a conditioner. Pin oil was used as the irothing agent. ..07 lb.

of sodium sulphocyanate' was used as a dispersion agent and as a depression agent for zinc sulphide. The lead concentrates were reclaimed from the froth.

The zinc sulphide tailings were" reactivated by the use of copper sulphate and refloated, recovering the zinc sulphide as a concentrate in the froth.

My reagent when used in an alkaline solution has the property of acting as a dispersing and depressing agent ior zinc sulphides and to some ex- 5 2. The method of separating lead and zinc sulphides comprising adding to the mineral pulp,

that has been made alkaline, sodium sulpho-cyanate and then subjecting the pulp to a froth flotation operation.

FRANK E. DOWNS. 

